CHAPTER 250: CHAPTER 245: HINTS

Chang Ning didn’t mind, Zhao Hanzhang had already explained that Fu Tinghan was the same as her, so if they needed anything, they could find her, and if she wasn’t there, Fu Tinghan could make all the decisions.

Due to their marital relationship, Chang Ning indeed treated Fu Tinghan as a second lord.

He even worried at one point that Fu Tinghan might compete with Zhao Hanzhang for power, but...

This Mr. Fu truly wasn’t interested in power; the description of a gentleman indifferent to such things perfectly suited him.

As long as he had paper and pen, he could sit quietly for a whole day. Regarding county affairs... his most frequent saying was, "Ask the Chief Clerk."

If not that, then, "Ask Hanzhang."

Chang Ning wasn’t sure if this marriage was orchestrated by Zhao Changyu, but with the two lords getting along so well and having such a clear division of labor, he was very pleased.

Chang Ning turned his head and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Lady, Zhu Chuan from Shu is planning to host a banquet at the Song Family, and the invitation has arrived. I’ve heard he’s planning to sell iron pots at the feast."

Zhao Hanzhang was taken aback, "Hasn’t he left yet? I thought he was planning to take those iron pots back to Shu to sell."

"No," Chang Ning paused for a moment and then said, "Perhaps it’s because he’s short on funds."

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang with deep meaning, "After all, those nine pots cost quite a bit."

Zhao Hanzhang: "..."

After thinking for a moment, she turned her head and said to Ting He, "Take a trip to the Treasure Pavilion and ask the shopkeeper to take down two iron pots; only display one, and no matter who asks, there’s only one."

She smiled at Chang Ning and said, "It’s my mistake; Mr. Zhu is generous, so we shouldn’t be stingy. Later, I’ll send a cook to help."

Chang Ning, seeing her handle the matter so appropriately, nodded slightly and handed her the invitation, "Here’s the invitation. On that day, the lady and Mr. Fu should attend together."

Zhu Chuan, although from Shu, has quite the business network. Many of Shu’s goods are useful here, and Chang Ning did not want to lose such a major merchant.

After discussing Zhu Chuan, Chang Ning casually mentioned, "Lady, Chenzhou hasn’t left yet and wishes to attend Zhu Chuan’s feast. He’s been looking for someone to bring him lately. Would you like to meet him?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "I mentioned it before my uncle, and he seems to dislike the Chen Family."

Therefore, she could give an invitation to attend Zhao Family’s banquet to Zhu Chuan but not to Chenzhou.

Firstly, because his status did not reach the level of recognition by everyone, and he lacked enough talent; secondly, it was because of Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming dislikes the Chen Family, so naturally, Zhao Hanzhang could not upset her elders.

With just one sentence, Chang Ning understood her meaning and immediately said, "I will find an excuse to decline for you."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment and said, "If he were more generous and gifted me with a craftsman skilled in printing, even if only an apprentice, it would be good."

Chang Ning: "..."

Although shocked by her shamelessness, Chang Ning quickly responded, "I will hint at that."

Their eyes met, filled with ambition. It was currently winter, and everything was slow, including the conveyance of messages. Who knows when Ji Yuan and Zhao Ming would find craftsmen from Luoyang, while the bookshop was about to be completed. If there were no craftsmen inside, she would be very upset.

How could eggs be fetched from only one place?

Reach out a bit more; perhaps you might touch upon eggs hidden in a nook?

The lord and strategist exchanged a knowing laugh.

Having gotten his direction, Chang Ning went forth to execute it. Halfway through, he remembered and turned back to call Zhao Hanzhang, saying quietly, "Lady, you haven’t gone to the front office to handle county affairs in several days."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Don’t we have you? Could it be that there’s been a major case in Xiping County?"

No, Xiping County is very quiet; minor trivial cases don’t even reach Zhao Hanzhang, resolved within village chief and family networks.

Zhao Hanzhang waved, "You handle these matters. If there’s anything you can’t decide, ask me."

She’s quite busy right now.

Thinking about her still rough gunmanship earlier, Chang Ning reluctantly nodded. All right, they still need protection from the lord in the future, so better let her practice martial arts first.

Chenzhou still couldn’t integrate into the Ru Nan’s scholar gentry, yes, it was indeed Ru Nan’s scholar gentry.

Due to the cold weather and the scholars being rather lax, having attended Zhao Family’s banquet, many left, while a portion decided to stay in Xiping.

Some were living at Zhao’s Fortress inn, others staying with friends from certain Zhao houses, while others lodged with Song Family, Qian Family, and other local gentries.

These people enjoyed daily banquets, the snow, wrote verses, danced with swords, drank, occasionally observing the bustling scene of Xiping County under Zhao Hanzhang’s governance. Chenzhou wished to join them.

But they all refused Chenzhou’s inclusion.

Chenzhou felt very distressed, lacking connections, searching all around and finding only Zhao Hanzhang as perhaps his last hope, especially since they just closed a business deal.

To express his esteem for Zhao Hanzhang and to secure an invitation to Zhao Family’s banquet, he nearly had someone rush back to Ancheng County to fetch the book she had ordered.

The distance between Ancheng County and Xiping was not very far, and the books had arrived by the last few days, but the Zhao Family’s banquet had passed, and he didn’t get an invitation, let alone Zhao Ming’s private banquet, which he was utterly excluded from.

He considered Zhu Chuan’s banquet to be his last chance; missing this one, it would soon be New Year. Though he didn’t mind staying in Xiping over New Year, he feared the scholars would be even less willing to see him then.

So Chenzhou bit his teeth and visited the county office once more, this time bringing along his steward and a list of books.

Zhao Hanzhang was unavailable, rumored to be on another countryside inspection.

Chenzhou found she loved countryside inspections too much; it had been nearly a month, and whenever he came, she was either in the countryside or on the way there.

Chenzhou sighed disappointedly, lingered briefly with Chang Ning, then prepared to leave.

Chang Ning, who had always been quite courteous to him, suddenly raised his head and glanced at the steward beside Chenzhou.

Chenzhou was still unaware, but the steward reacted first, pondered for a moment, asked Chenzhou to wait, and pulled Chang Ning aside, "Chief Clerk, you know our lord’s wishes. Alas, our Chen Family is unfamiliar in Xiping, so I ask for your guidance."

With that, he slipped a pouch into Chang Ning’s hand.

Chang Ning pushed it back, saying, "I don’t know either, but it seems someone in Xiping doesn’t favor Mr. Chen; you know, with our lady managing Xiping as a woman, she walks on thin ice, so..."

Chang Ning suggested, "If Mr. Chen has astounding essays, how could he not integrate with them?"

Steward: "..." If their lord had such skills, why would they be maneuvering around like this?

Wouldn’t just toss out his essays and make the scholars eat their words?

They really couldn’t write them.

The steward again slipped the pouch back and asked quietly, "In your view, is there another way?"

The Chief Clerk hesitated, perhaps moved by his sincerity, finally said, "Our lady has a challenging role as County Lord, but her position remains. If she speaks on behalf of Mr. Chen, his problem would be solved."

The steward smiled and nodded, but internally he cursed. Such nonsense, as if he didn’t know. Calling Zhao Hanzhang’s position tough, tough my foot.

In the county, families like Song, Qian, and other gentries shrank like quails, not daring to oppose Zhao Hanzhang’s decisions.

Claiming it’s all power from the Zhao Family backing, he’d never believe it.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang refused to introduce their lord. What could they do?

The steward tried hard to appear earnest looking at Chang Ning.

Only then did Chang Ning hint, "Our lady is building a bookshop in the city, intending to print some of her favored books and manuscripts..."